I used to want to be a hip hop producer. I studied many a style to try and figure out what was special about each hitmaker. For a better understanding of where I fall in terms of beat taste why not take a look at my list of the 15 best Hip-Hop producers? You’ll see one, Justin “Just Blaze” Smith ranked pretty high!

So I hope you have your Tidal subscriptions in order because we’re going to take a journey through Just Blaze’s hits!

Why Though:It’s truly a shame that these guys don’t get along because I truly enjoyed this collaboration. The heavy keyboards sounds of the beginning don’t instil much faith in the track but then by time the drums really kick in and you hear Just sampled on the hook, you can settle into the concept for the beat. It doesn’t hurt that Jay and Cam turn in stellar flows and rhymes over this soundbed.

Why Though:I know this wasn’t the big single from this album but it was the only song that I listened to. Not just because of the fun of having one of the illest from the West connecting with the illest from the East. I’m here for the the flutes on this track! As we go through this list you’ll also notice how much I appreciate a good Just Blaze drum pattern. The percussion on this song is great.

Why Though:This was one of the first beats I jacked when I felt like I was going to be a superstar rapper. Turns out, Joe and I are both retired. Not only was this song in Mean Girls but it’s got a great Busta verse! But we’re here to celebrate Just and as such it should be mentioned how much I appreciated the drums and percussion all over this beat mixed with some great adlibs. There’s such a great energy to this track.

Why Though:As an 80s baby, Just had me at the Wreckx-N-Effect sax at the beginning. But the live drums played by Just Blaze with triumphant horns throughout really do it for me. In fact the fact, all instruments sound like they’re actually being played for the track instead of played off an MPC or keyboard. I gotta respect that. Yes I did jump on this beat too back in the day!

Why Though:I got scared when I first heard this song. Em was in a weird place musically (for me anyway) and then Just made the beat drop and the Piano stabs with some other cool keyboard sounds played over a nasty snare. It was back to angry Eminem mode and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Why Though:I love the menacing tone of the horns and bassline on this track. Yeah the drums knock, to be sure, but it’s the bass and horns that really get me nodding my head on this song and really sets a great tone for this pretty good album by Jay’s right-hand man!

Why Though:There used to be a video of Just Blaze actually conducting a full on orchestra to get the instrumentation of this beat just right. I respect that so much. To see a guy who most would write off as some hip hop guy talk time signatures, key changes, and three part harmonies with confidence was great. Getting Swizz on the hook was another stroke of genius.

Why Though:Speaking of Swizz on the hook, let’s listen to this soulful beat by Just Blaze for Mr. “I played myself on Entourage!” That dirty guitar section that sounds almost impossible to pull off is such a great mix with the sampled vocals you hear almost like a church choir throughout the song.

Why Though:It figures that Just Blaze would have a placement on the best Drake album. Tell me you don’t love the drums on this beat? Again, it sounds like Just is actually playing them instead of hitting buttons. The actual choir singing their hearts out is a great touch too!

Why Though:The beat feels so hip hop without having anyone spitting bars on it. I think I love the sprinkles of piano over the great bassline and drums. But this is definitely a case of a track being greater than the sum of its parts. Everything comes together perfectly for me to enjoy a song by an artist I don’t think I’ve really rocked with.

Why Though:I don’t know why I love this song. It could be that I just love most things State Property related. But I think it’s because it’s such a beat I wouldn’t normally be drawn to. It doesn’t feel like much is going on and it can feel repetitive, however, the sounds are so intentional. Everything feels like it should be there and couldn’t be any other why. Man I love this beat!

Why Though: Bet you didn’t think you’d see Mr. West on this list. To be honest I’ll always remember feeling like Kanye getting the person who was ostensibly his competition at the Roc to do a beat for him was a blemish on this, his 4th best album. Back then I thought, “what’s the point of the guy who can rap and make his own beats getting beats from someone else?” The truth is it’s a great song that introduced me to Lupe and has some amazing drums and possibly the most triumphant horns!

Why Though:What a way to close out the third best JAY-Z album. Just when you thought Just Blaze wouldn’t get in a placement he comes with a truly aggressive statement of a beat. Yeah you get the idea, the drums sound live and intricate there’s some wailing vocal samples, some lovely string and horns! All things your friendly neighbouthood YG appreciates.

Why Though:OH MAN! This was the first song I ever put on my Samsung double flip phone. It even made it to everyone of my iPods so I could work out to this song. Now I don’t have a working iPod and don’t go to the gym. But back to the genius of Just Blaze.: some MEAN drums, shrill horns and then those forceful piano hits! This beat has got soul!

Why Though:The amazing strings to start off really work for me. Like “Roc tha Mic” this is a beat that feels repetitive, mostly due to the “BOY” sample. However, there is a lot going on on this track and I love all the minor details. Plus, I really liked Dipset so I can’t help that this beat gets a lot of nostalgia points.

Why Though:What a year Beyoncé had in 2016! I’m kidding. She’s always been dope but Lemonade really caught my attention (musically). What a special treat to get a track with Kendrick co-produced by JUST BLAZE like outta nowhere. The soulful organs and militant drums all worked to give me peak Just Blaze flashbacks and to prove to the world he doesn’t just do beats with Bauer now.

Why Though:I love the vocal quality of Just at the beginning as well as the sample singing “you’re gonna want me back.” I’ve always been a fan of Usher but this song (which was actually on a State Prop mixtape first) really made Usher sound GROWN. There’s also something about the horns and bass that sound like they’re crying. But that’s crazy right? Instruments can’t do that. I don’t know, this beat is really special.

Why Though:In the thick of it, I never saw Joe Budden as a one hit wonder. His mixtape Mood Muzik 2 was all hits all the time for me. But with some distance from the situation, I can see how this song with THIS beat would have people saying Joe’s a one hit wonder. There is nothing else like this beat. Even JAY-Z jacked it. The drums really do it for me. In case you had to guess.

Why Though:WOW just WOW. This beat was and remains the musical manifestation of FIRE. It’s furious and dangerous. No wonder it’s part of the best T.I. album! I don’t think I thought Just Blaze could do down south music (yes I’d heard Memphis Bleek’s “Round Here” (ft. T.I. & Trick Daddy). But this was a perfect marriage of what I love about Just and T.I.

Why Though:There’s an urgency to this beat that I really appreciate. I like the song being sampled (yes I know Supertramp) mixed with those live sounding drums. Let’s just get out of this entry before we have to think to hard about the legal situation for the person rapping on this track.

Why Though:That menacing piano that gives way to an intense organ is all you need to know about to understand how this beat got so high up. Even Sick,Wicked&Nasty couldn’t stay away from covering this. That’s right I just did Jay’s lines verbatim. Hit up our next show. We might just pull that trick back out.

Why Though:The drums and horns helped out by some subtle but deadly guitar work throughout. Everyone thought The Game was just working because of 50 Cent and Dr. Dre. Even though this is clearly a 50 hook, it’s Just Blaze on the beat giving Jayceon a real hit without the help of the good doctor foreshadowing Game’s ability to live on without beats by Dre.

Why Though:Great choice on the sampled vocals yet again and the horns are truly top notch. I just love this song. It’s one of my favourite hip hop songs If I’m being honest but I think that’s because of when I heard it in my Dipset standom. The beat itself is pretty great though, right?

Why Though:The way Just Blaze flipped the great work he’d already done on the first Blueprint will always blow my mind. This beat never fails to get me amped up. This is the ultimate head nodding with screwface beat for me, word to how the vocal sample screams on certain parts of this song but especially @3:36!